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I wanted to get an idea from other techies (tech pkg people) about your auto-present behavior when your fob is in your pocket. I find that when approaching the car from the front (along the side of the hood), the handles start presenting about 7 feet away. The timing is right.

If, however, I approach from the back of the car (along the side), I have to be within a few feet of the door handle to get the auto-present behavior. So I find I have to wait about a second for the handles to extend.

If I approach from the side of the car, I often have to "swing my hips" within about 2 feet of the door to get the auto-present behavior. Much too close, and it looks weird. Oh, and I have to wait for the handles.

When I got my car I reported this to Tesla and they checked both FOBs. They said they were good and this is normal behavior. Is it really? I find it hard to believe that Elon would be satisfied with this behavior.

When it's on and I come in from the rear in the garage, I have to step forward to the front door to extend the handles then back to open the rear door and drop my briefcase in. (The Tesla 2-step, I think it's called).

From the front, my handles don't start to extend until I'm practically at the door, not the 7' away that the OP mentions.

Yup, I do this routine practically every day to load my son into the back seat at school. He has gotten used to waiting for me to step to the front (with his hand poised/cupped right over the rear handle).

It's awkward and a little embarrassing enough that I kinda pretend to casually meander to the front from some distance rather than walk up the side of the car and back. Or, I take the trouble of reversing into the parking spot so that I can approach from the front after. If there are too many onlookers around, I surreptitiously press the key fob in my jeans pocket to make doubly sure that the handles come out.

Got to be one of those Tesla syndromes that need a name How about SHAHS?! The Sore Hips from Auto-present Handles Syndrome!

OK, sounds like I'm not alone. Also sounds like a bit of a design fail here. If you ask me, just present the handles and keep them out as long as I'm within 15' of the car...that's what I say. Really surprised the current behavior made it to production.

I suppose us Model S 1.0ers are out of luck...maybe this will come with the next major revision.

99% of the time I just have to walk up and the door handles present themselves.
a few times they have not because I have something else in my pocket between the fob and the car.
I just put my hand in my pocket and fumble around a bit. handles present themselves.
sometimes I just put my hand in my pocket and fumble around for fun...:biggrin:

The handles stay open for about a minute if you use the keyfob. If you have the keyfob on a key ring with your house key and you lock the door before you leave then unlocking the Model S before you put your key away is one alternative until Tesla provides a better solution.

Meta

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